Fire-escape



(No. Model.)

A. TALLAS & A. SWENSON.-

FIRE ESCAPE.

Patented May 26, 1891.

I111] e'niu'rs HT. Tnlll ii-T JTlloar'lr Eula-R5011 liiurna g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDROW .I. TALLAS AND ALBERT SIVENSON, OF DULUTH, MINNESOTA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 453,134, dated May 26, 1891. Application filed September 30, 1890. Serial No. 366.6691. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ANDROW J. TALLAS and ALBERT SWENSON, citizens of the United States of America, residing at Duluth, in the county of St. Louis and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention pertains to certain. new and useful improvements in fire-escapes, having for its object to provide simple and improved means by which a flexible and portable fireescape can be readily and easily secured to any Window of abnilding and a person safely lowered thereby.

The invention comprises an anchor or guide line secured at its inner end to the upper portion of a window-frame, a sliding line passed through a loop thereof and having a broad canvas belt secured thereto which engages said anchor or guide line, and a friction slide or clutch on said sliding line, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in side elevation showing our improved fire-escape as attached to a building, the latter being in section. Fig. 2 is a detail View showing the inner end of the anchor or guide line.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the anchor or guide rope, which is provided at its inner end with a hook a, designed to engage a hook ct',.secured to the top of the window-frame, or it may be connected to any stationary article of furniture. A loop a is formed in rope A near the hook 'a thereof.

B is the sliding line or rope which is passed throughloop a of rope A. To one end of the sliding rope B is connected a broad belt I), adj ustably united in front at its ends by straps and buckles b. A ring or loop 27 is secured to the rear side of belt I), and rope A is passed therethrough so as to provide a guide for the belt in its movement.

0 is a cylindrical clutch, made preferably of thick rubber, and placed on sliding lineB within reach of the person around whom belt I) is placed.

In practice the operator places belt 1) around his body and firmly unites its ends by the buckles and straps thereof. The anchor-rope is thrown out of the window. The operator then throws out the sliding line, and grasping the friction-clutch gradually lowers himself to the ground, being guided by the anchor-line in his descent. Upon reaching the ground the belt may be returned to the window from which lowered by pulling upon sliding line B, or said belt can in like manner be brought to any lower Window on either side of that to which the anchor-rope is attached. The friction-clutch may be dispensed with when there is an operator on the ground to control the movement of the sliding rope or line.

It will be seen that We have produced a fireescape that is extremely light in weight, simple, cheap, and durable, and one that is readily and easily manipulated from any part of a'bnilding.

We claim as our invention 1. In a fire-escape, the anchor or guide rope having a loop at its inner end, the sliding rope passed through said loop and having a broad belt secured thereto, and the guide-ring connectedto said belt and encompassing said anchor or guide rope, substantiallyas set forth.

2. -In' a fire-escape, the anchor or guide rope having a loop at its inner end, the sliding rope passed through said loop, the broad belt c011- nected to said sliding rope and havingaring secured thereto and encompassing said anchor or guide rope, and the friction-clutch on said sliding rope, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof We affix our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

ANDROIV J. TALLAS. ALBERT SWENSON. Witnesses:

CHAS. F. HOPKINS, R. A. THOMSON. 

